WASHINGTON (AP/Tass) –
During his meetings with U.S. President Joe Biden Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky tried to convince him that Kiev can win “outright” over Russia, but U.S. officials find it highly unlikely, the Washington Post has reported.
“Zelensky used his brief encounters with Biden and lawmakers on Wednesday to argue that Ukraine is capable of winning the war outright - something U.S. officials privately say is highly unlikely,” the newspaper say, citing sources.
According to the publication, the arrival of the Ukrainian President to Washington was also “an effort to shore up support among skeptical lawmakers and other Americans before a brutal winter of fighting.”
The publication reports that the crew of the American military aircraft on which Zelensky arrived in the United States did not know until the last moment that the Ukrainian President would be on board. The U.S. military believed that the passengers would be the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine and a number of Ukrainian officials.
“The trip came together in a matter of days, with only a tight group of White House and other senior administration officials aware of the plans,” the newspaper says.
According to the newspaper, “Zelensky had made it clear to Biden for several months that he wanted to make the United States his first visit outside Ukraine”.
On December 21, at Biden’s invitation, Zelensky spent several hours in Washington, where he met with the head of state, the leadership of Congress, and delivered a speech. Zelensky’s visit was timed to coincide with the announcement of a new $1.85 billion US military aid package. For the first time, the Patriot air defense battery was included in it.
On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation in Ukraine in response to a request from the leaders of the Donbass republics for help. The West then imposed large-scale sanctions against Russia and increased arms supplies to Kiev by billions of dollars.

Shells Pummel Kherson;
7 dead, 58 Wounded

Russian shells pummeled the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson on Saturday, killing seven people and injuring 58 more in the city that Moscow’s forces were forced to abandon last month.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, just back from his quick trip to Washington, posted photos of the wreckage on his social media accounts. He noted the destruction came as Ukrainians were beginning Christmas celebrations that for many Orthodox Christians will culminate in the traditional celebration Jan. 7.
“This is not sensitive content — it’s the real life of Kherson,” Zelenskyy tweeted. The images showed cars on fire, bodies on the street and building windows blown out.
The deputy head of the presidential office, Kyrylo Tymoshenko, said seven people were killed in the shelling of Kherson on Saturday and 58 were injured, at least 16 of them seriously.